Lucinda Brand wins first ‘cross World Cup in Czech Republic

On Saturday, Dutch rider Lucinda Brand earned her first World Cup victory in Tabor, Czech Republic, pushing up from the third row to take the win. Canada’s Maghalie Rochette wore her snazzy new national champion’s jersey and moved through the pack from 30th to 13th. Brand’s compatriot Marianne Vos, leader of the World Cup, took the race off to rest, but Belgian Sanne Cant wasn’t able to move into the series lead with a podium spot.

Four new Continental Champions will take the start in the Women’s race in Tabor today. @AnnemarieMTB ?? European Elite.
Ceylin Alvarado ?? European U23. @maghroch ?? Pan-American Elite.
Clara Honsinger ?? Pan-American U23. #TelenetUCICXWC pic.twitter.com/Mx9f5fAh4h

— UCI Cyclocross (@UCI_CX) November 17, 2018

On a chilly but clear day in South Bohemia, the 3.05-km course held some tricky sections that hadn’t met the sun yet. Without studs on the shoes it was a treacherous situation.

A huge pile up marred the start of the race. Italian Eva Lechner led the way onto the grass. Jinglecross winner Kaitlin Keough (USA) was right on her back tire. Maud Kaptheijns then took over the front on the second half of the course. Captain Maud finished the first lap in 8:04. Rochette was 26th at the end of Lap 1.

On Lap 2 a slippery corner held up more riders but Rochette pushed up to 23rd. Up at the pointy end Keough had faded back and Cant became Kaptheijns’ closest pursuer. World champ Cant took over the lead, the front rider of a seven rider group.

Where the sun has yet to defrost sections of the course it’s hellishly slippery. It’s almost impossible to walk which has caused big bottlenecks as riders slip and stall.

U23 World Champion ? and #TelenetUCICXWC leader, Evie Richards, one of those caught up in the carnage.

— UCI Cyclocross (@UCI_CX) November 17, 2018

European champion Anne Marie Worst (The Netherlands) nabbed the reins and Cant went down in a hairpin turn. Worst finished the second of five laps with a 6-second gap. Rochette was 21st.

@UCI_CX Watching live in Canada after organizing Pan Am CX and Canadian National CX the last two weeks. Enjoying the break and cheering on new Pan Am and ?? champ @maghroch #TelenetUCICXWC

— The Silver Goose (@SilverGooseCX) November 17, 2018

Italy’s Alice Maria Arfuzzi brought the chaser group back to Worst on Lap 3, with Rochette continuing to make her way through the field. Lap 4 saw the Belgians, Cant and Ellen Van Loy, assume the lead and Rochette move up to 13th. Cant tried to power everyone off her wheel but couldn’t drop her companions.

Soon after Dutch champion Lucinda Brand moved up into the lead on the bell lap, Cant found the treacherous corner and slipped. Brand hammered away as Cant had to make up 12-seconds.

Brand kept the lead and a small group fought it out for the podium positions. Sixth place Cant is now 18-points behind Vos at the top of the table. Vos will be back next week for the sand dunes of Koksijde, Belgium.

What a win for @lucinda_brand at the #TelenetUCICXWC in Tabor! #KeepChallenging pic.twitter.com/LIcM1rCxNn

— Team Sunweb (@TeamSunweb) November 17, 2018

2018-2019 UCI Cyclocross World Cup, Round 4, Tabor, Elite Women
1) Lucinda Brand (The Netherlands) 40:10
2) Annemarie Worst (The Netherlands) +0:06
3) Alice Maria Arfuzzi (Italy) s.t.
13) Maghalie Rochette (Canada) 1:12